Lithuania: trade union suggests nationalizing Russia-owned fertilizer plant under EU sanctions

Solidarumas, a Lithuanian trade union, has suggested nationalizing a Kedainiai-based phosphate fertilizer manufacturer Lifosa the indirect owner of which is subject to EU sanctions. Kristina Krupaviciene, the union’s chairwoman, has presented the proposal to the Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte, saying that the move would help save jobs, government and municipal revenues. Some of the company’s…

Lithuania: army buying counter-drone systems

Lithuania has signed a contract to purchase new counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems for its armed forces, the Defense Ministry reports. The systems will be configured to detect, identify and neutralize UAVs by suppressing navigation, video transmission and control signals, the ministry said. The Defense Material Agency signed the contract with NT Service, a Lithuanian…

Lithuania: excise duty on fuel to be lowered

The Lithuanian government is considering lowering excise duty on fuel in a bid to bring down soaring gasoline and diesel prices, Deputy Finance Minister Gediminas Norkunas said on March 14. “I cannot discuss anything until measures have been approved by the cabinet, but yes, we are looking at possible measures,” Norkunas told the parliamentary Committee…

Lithuania: government proposes social benefits for Ukrainian refugees

Lithuania’s Social Security Ministry has drafted a bill to offer social benefits for Ukrainian war refugees. “Those are extra social guarantees for people, in addition to the temporary protection mechanism,” Social Security and Labour Minister Monika Navickiene told MPs while presenting the draft amendments. Once a person is granted temporary protection in Lithuania, they will…

Lithuania: country can do without Russian gas, but not without Russian electricity

Lithuania’s LNG terminal can provide the country with alternatives for Russian gas supply, but its dependence on electricity imports from Russia is “a major problem”, says Lithuanian EU Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevicius. The country should speed up its plans to disconnect from the Russia-dominated network and synchronize its grid with those of Western Europe, he said…